EU, Antitrust / Competition & State Aid

Competition and antitrust laws around the world are evolving rapidly. Authorities are increasingly using a wide range of powers to investigate mergers, markets, cartels and other behaviors. The commercial landscape has been shifted by enhanced digitization and the use of integrated platforms and B2B services. Thus, the range of business practices spawning antitrust enforcement is likewise expanding and fines for antitrust infringements are on the rise.

Our leading Competition Law practitioners have extensive experience and have handled a wide spectrum of cases spanning on all practice areas of Antitrust Law. Our Competition Law team gets to grips quickly with the market dynamics lying at the heart of the Antitrust issue providing strategic advice to ensure the best possible outcome. Our department is acclaimed for its commercially oriented solutions, by developing optimal synergies with the other practices (Corporate & Commercial Law, Tax, Banking & Finance, TMT, Energy etc.) of Koutalidis Law Firm, in order to help our clients navigate this constantly evolving landscape. 

Our Competition and Antitrust practice is involved in transactions from their very early stages and analyses, anticipates and deals with all possible Competition Law risks for the clients of our Firm. We use our extensive knowledge of Competition Law and enforcement to help get the deal done, resolve a dispute or solve a business challenge.

Moreover, we have a close and well appreciated cooperation with the competent authorities domestically and at EU level.

We also litigate cases, where necessary, assisted by our partners in the Administrative & Environmental Law practice or Civil Litigation department of our Arbitration, Litigation & Mediation practice.  We are often referred cases from international firms being part of their national council panel for Competition Law cases.

Services

Our team is equipped with the experience and expertise to provide a wide spectrum of EU, Antitrust / Competition & State Aid services.

Antitrust

  • cartel investigations – dawn raids – leniency/settlement programmes
  • compliance – exchange of information – clean teams
  • horizontal agreements – cooperative joint ventures and alliances
  • vertical agreements – distribution systems and agency – franchising – technology transfer
  • abuse of dominance – pricing and non-pricing abuses – interface with IP rights – interface with exclusive rights
  • sector specific competition rules (e.g. Electronic Communications, Electricity and Gas, Transport, Broadcasting) – ex ante regulation
  • sector inquiries – public consultations

Merger Control

  • merger filings – full function JVs – multijurisdictional filings
  • substantive analysis with – where necessary – collaboration with economists
  • third interested parties – merger opposition – market surveys
  • advise on integration planning

State Aid rules

  • individual aid and aid schemes – notifications – complaints
  • interface with privatisation and public procurement matters
  • implementation of recovery orders

Litigating Competition Law cases (before Greek and EU courts):

  • actions for annulment against Hellenic Competition Commission’s decisions before the Administrative Court of Appeal of Athens or before the Supreme Administrative Court – defenses
  • actions for annulment against European Commission decisions before the General Court of EU
  • referrals to the Court of Justice of the EU for preliminary rulings
  • actions for damages (or respective defence) before Greek civil Courts for violations of antitrust rules
  • actions for damages before Greek administrative courts (illegal state aid cases)

With a practice that covers all aspects of EU and Greek Competition Law, including state aid and competition litigation, our Competition practice has broad experience in advising companies before the Hellenic Competition Commission and the European Commission, and representing clients before EU and Greek courts. Our clients include financial institutions and companies from the energy, pharmaceutical, telecommunications and postal, food, retail, electronic platforms and construction sector.

Examples of our practice work include representation of or advice to:

  • Hellenic Post S.A. (ELTA) re compliance with Competition Law.
  • Skroutz S.A in connection with the sale of a minority stake to CVC Capital Partners.
  • Eurobank Ergasias S.A. in connection with the sale to DoValue S.p.A. of 80% of its subsidiary Eurobank Financial Planning Services.
  • The 4 systemic banks of Greece, i.e. Alpha Bank, Eurobank, National Bank of Greece and Piraeus Bank in the sale of their shareholdings in “Nireus Aquaculture S.A.” and “Selonda Aquaculture S.A.” (two major fish farming companies in Greece) to an entity controlled by “Mudabala Investment Company” and “Amera Capital Management LLC”, following a bidding process.
  • The four systemic Greek banks – Alpha Bank, Eurobank, National Bank of Greece and Piraeus Bank on their entry into a servicing agreement with Italian credit institution doValue S.p.A. for the management of common non-performing loans extended by the banks to small- and medium-sized enterprises and its compliance with competition law rules.
  • Adidas Hellas on competition law issues arising from the day-to-day business, including the compliance e.g. of the terms and conditions of distribution agreements, of e-commerce policy, of standalone commercial relationship with distributors, of the set-up of the distribution system, with competition rules. The competition department has also conducted competition law trainings to the sales and legal teams.
  • Ravago S.A. on merger control issues.
  • Colgate Palmolive Company (US) on appealing successfully against Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC) decision No 610/2015 before the Administrative Court of Appeals of Athens.
  • Public Power Corporation (PPC), the Greek electricity incumbent with regard to the implications of the judgments of the CJEU in case C‑553/12 P and of the General Court in Case T‑169/08 RENV concerning PPC’s rights in lignite fields and also, in obtaining a positive state aid decision on the basis of article 106(2) TFEU for Services of General Economic Interest in the non-interconnected islands of Greece (case SA.43168).
  • Vodafone Hellas on merger control and antitrust issues.
  • Vodafone Hellas in its network sharing agreement with Wind Hellas.
  • Alpha Bank on merger control and state aid issues.
  • Novartis Hellas on evaluation of its commercial policy vis-à-vis its wholesalers from a competition perspective.
  • Ministry of Infrastructure with regard to Services of General Economic Interest and regional airports.
  • Major undertaking in the construction cartel investigation launched by HCC.
  • Assistance to the Legal Service of the European Commission in Article 272 TFEU cases before the EU General Court in Luxembourg.

WHO TO CONTACT

Koutalidis Law Firm Celebrates Top Ranking in Chambers and Partners Global 2024

We are delighted to share that Koutalidis Law Firm has once again been recognized as a top-ranked firm in the prestigious Chambers and Partners Global 2024 rankings. This marks yet another year where our commitment to legal excellence and our dedication to serving our clients at the highest level have→

Koutalidis Law Firm has been shortlisted for the Chambers Europe Awards 2024

We are thrilled to announce that Koutalidis Law Firm has been shortlisted for the prestigious Chambers Europe Awards 2024! This recognition is a testament to our team’s hard work, dedication, and the strong standing we have in the legal market. The ceremony is set to take place on Thursday, 25 April at→

Koutalidis Law Firm’s Website Wins Gold Award for UX/UI Design

We are delighted to announce that Koutalidis Law Firm’s website has won the Gold Award for UX/UI Design in the B2B Website category at the 2023 UX/CX Awards. This prestigious recognition was made possible with the invaluable support and expertise of gnc | web and George Chouliaras, whose contributions were→

K.Protopapa & E.Papoutsi recognized as Women Leaders by IFLR1000

We are proud to announce that two of our esteemed female partners have been recognized by IFLR1000 in their 2023 edition, one of the most prestigious legal directories in the world. Katia Protopapa, Partner and Head of our M&A practice along with Effie Papoutsi, Partner of our Banking & Finance→

Koutalidis Law Firm Shines once again in IFLR1000’s 2023 Rankings

We are elated to share that the much-anticipated IFLR1000 rankings for 2023 have been unveiled, and Koutalidis Law Firm has made its mark yet again. Our firm has been honored with a Tier 1 ranking, underscoring our unwavering commitment to providing top-notch legal services. This year’s research by IFLR1000 featured→

Koutalidis Law Firm is listed in the 2nd of The Legal 500’s EMEA Green Guide.

Koutalidis Law Firm is selected and listed in the second edition of The Legal 500’s EMEA Green Guide. The guide refers to some of the key firms engaging with energy and sustainability projects in the EMEA region. As Koutalidis is currently advising on a pipeline of RES projects with a→

Koutalidis Law Firm is Top Ranked once again on Chambers & Partners Europe 2023 rankings

Chambers & Partners Europe rankings have been announced and Koutalidis Law Firm is once again Top Ranked! This achievement demonstrates the commitment, integrity, and service excellence of our team members as we always seek to deliver impeccable legal advice. More specifically our clients mentioned, Banking & Finance: “They have a→

Koutalidis Law Firm is recognized on IFLR’s shortlist for its 2023 Europe Awards

Koutalidis Law Firm is delighted to be recognized on IFLR’s shortlist for its 2023 Europe Awards. Judged independently by IFLR’s editorial team, the awards focus exclusively on legal innovation in cross-border transactions that reached a financial close in 2022. The winning deals, law firms and in-house legal teams will be→

Koutalidis Law Firm is ranked as a Top Firm by Chambers and Partners Global in their 2023 Guide

Koutalidis Law Firm is ranked as a Top Firm by Chambers and Partners Global in their 2023 Guide to the World’s Leading Lawyers for Business. More specifically Chambers review states, “Koutalidis is highly sought after by domestic and international lenders for capital markets and financing mandates. The firm regularly advises→

Koutalidis Law Firm Celebrates Top Ranking in Chambers and Partners Global 2024

We are delighted to share that Koutalidis Law Firm has once again been recognized as a top-ranked firm in the prestigious Chambers and Partners Global 2024 rankings. This marks yet another year where our commitment to legal excellence and our dedication to serving our clients at the highest level have→

Koutalidis Law Firm has been shortlisted for the Chambers Europe Awards 2024

We are thrilled to announce that Koutalidis Law Firm has been shortlisted for the prestigious Chambers Europe Awards 2024! This recognition is a testament to our team’s hard work, dedication, and the strong standing we have in the legal market. The ceremony is set to take place on Thursday, 25 April at→

Koutalidis Law Firm’s Website Wins Gold Award for UX/UI Design

We are delighted to announce that Koutalidis Law Firm’s website has won the Gold Award for UX/UI Design in the B2B Website category at the 2023 UX/CX Awards. This prestigious recognition was made possible with the invaluable support and expertise of gnc | web and George Chouliaras, whose contributions were→

K.Protopapa & E.Papoutsi recognized as Women Leaders by IFLR1000

We are proud to announce that two of our esteemed female partners have been recognized by IFLR1000 in their 2023 edition, one of the most prestigious legal directories in the world. Katia Protopapa, Partner and Head of our M&A practice along with Effie Papoutsi, Partner of our Banking & Finance→

Koutalidis Law Firm Shines once again in IFLR1000’s 2023 Rankings

We are elated to share that the much-anticipated IFLR1000 rankings for 2023 have been unveiled, and Koutalidis Law Firm has made its mark yet again. Our firm has been honored with a Tier 1 ranking, underscoring our unwavering commitment to providing top-notch legal services. This year’s research by IFLR1000 featured→

Koutalidis Law Firm is listed in the 2nd of The Legal 500’s EMEA Green Guide.

Koutalidis Law Firm is selected and listed in the second edition of The Legal 500’s EMEA Green Guide. The guide refers to some of the key firms engaging with energy and sustainability projects in the EMEA region. As Koutalidis is currently advising on a pipeline of RES projects with a→

Koutalidis Law Firm is Top Ranked once again on Chambers & Partners Europe 2023 rankings

Chambers & Partners Europe rankings have been announced and Koutalidis Law Firm is once again Top Ranked! This achievement demonstrates the commitment, integrity, and service excellence of our team members as we always seek to deliver impeccable legal advice. More specifically our clients mentioned, Banking & Finance: “They have a→

Koutalidis Law Firm is recognized on IFLR’s shortlist for its 2023 Europe Awards

Koutalidis Law Firm is delighted to be recognized on IFLR’s shortlist for its 2023 Europe Awards. Judged independently by IFLR’s editorial team, the awards focus exclusively on legal innovation in cross-border transactions that reached a financial close in 2022. The winning deals, law firms and in-house legal teams will be→

Koutalidis Law Firm is ranked as a Top Firm by Chambers and Partners Global in their 2023 Guide

Koutalidis Law Firm is ranked as a Top Firm by Chambers and Partners Global in their 2023 Guide to the World’s Leading Lawyers for Business. More specifically Chambers review states, “Koutalidis is highly sought after by domestic and international lenders for capital markets and financing mandates. The firm regularly advises→

Koutalidis Law Firm Celebrates Top Ranking in Chambers and Partners Global 2024

We are delighted to share that Koutalidis Law Firm has once again been recognized as→

Read More
Koutalidis Law Firm has been shortlisted for the Chambers Europe Awards 2024

We are thrilled to announce that Koutalidis Law Firm has been shortlisted for the prestigious Chambers Europe→

Read More
Koutalidis Law Firm’s Website Wins Gold Award for UX/UI Design

We are delighted to announce that Koutalidis Law Firm’s website has won the Gold Award→

Read More
K.Protopapa & E.Papoutsi recognized as Women Leaders by IFLR1000

We are proud to announce that two of our esteemed female partners have been recognized→

Read More
Koutalidis Law Firm Shines once again in IFLR1000’s 2023 Rankings

We are elated to share that the much-anticipated IFLR1000 rankings for 2023 have been unveiled,→

Read More
Koutalidis Law Firm is listed in the 2nd of The Legal 500’s EMEA Green Guide.

Koutalidis Law Firm is selected and listed in the second edition of The Legal 500’s→

Read More
Koutalidis Law Firm is Top Ranked once again on Chambers & Partners Europe 2023 rankings

Chambers & Partners Europe rankings have been announced and Koutalidis Law Firm is once again→

Read More
Koutalidis Law Firm is recognized on IFLR’s shortlist for its 2023 Europe Awards

Koutalidis Law Firm is delighted to be recognized on IFLR’s shortlist for its 2023 Europe→

Read More
Koutalidis Law Firm is ranked as a Top Firm by Chambers and Partners Global in their 2023 Guide

Koutalidis Law Firm is ranked as a Top Firm by Chambers and Partners Global in→

Read More